Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - HOLLY ENERGY PARTNERS LPhepform8kq42014earnings.htm



Earnings Release
February 24, 2015
Holly Energy Partners, L.P. Reports Fourth Quarter Results
Dallas, Texas -- Holly Energy Partners, L.P. (“HEP” or the “Partnership”) (NYSE:HEP) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter of 2014. For the quarter, distributable cash flow was $41.8 million, an increase of $7.6 million, or 22.1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. HEP announced its 41st consecutive distribution increase on January 22, 2015, raising the quarterly distribution from $0.5225 to $0.53 per unit, representing a 6.0% increase over the distribution for the fourth quarter of 2013.
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners for the fourth quarter was $28.7 million ($0.33 per basic and diluted limited partner unit) compared to $19.0 million ($0.19 per basic and diluted limited partner unit) for the fourth quarter of 2013. This increase in earnings is primarily due to higher pipeline volumes and annual tariff increases as well as decreased interest expense due to the early retirement of our 8.25% Senior Notes in March 2014. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, pipeline shipments were low during the fourth quarter of 2013 due to reduced crude throughput at HollyFrontier Corporation's ("HFC") Navajo Refinery caused by wastewater processing constraints.
Commenting on the fourth quarter of 2014, Mike Jennings, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are pleased that financial results for the fourth quarter of 2014 allowed us to continue our record of raising our quarterly distribution. We remain optimistic about our organic growth potential, especially on our New Mexico crude system and on the UNEV products pipeline. Additionally, we are evaluating new growth opportunities that leverage our capabilities and HollyFrontier Corporation's refining footprint. As we look forward, we believe HEP is well positioned for continued growth due to the quality and geographic location of our assets, our talented employee base, and our financially strong and supportive general partner, HollyFrontier."
Fourth Quarter 2014 Revenue Highlights
Revenues for the quarter were $88.4 million, a $10.5 million increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. The revenue increase was due to higher volumes and annual tariff increases in addition to a $1.7 million increase in previously deferred revenue realized. Overall pipeline volumes were up 31% compared to the fourth quarter of 2013.
Revenues from our refined product pipelines were $31.7 million, an increase of $3.7 million due to higher volumes and annual tariff increases. Shipments averaged 192.1 thousand barrels per day (“mbpd”) compared to 174.2 mbpd for the fourth quarter of 2013 mainly due to the reduced crude throughput at HFC's Navajo refinery during the fourth quarter of 2013.
Revenues from our intermediate pipelines were $8.2 million, an increase of $2.8 million primarily due to an increase of $1.6 million in previously deferred revenue realized and the effects of increased volumes. Shipments averaged 131.6 mbpd compared to 114.4 mbpd for the fourth quarter of 2013 mainly due to the reduced crude throughput at HFC's Navajo refinery during the fourth quarter of 2013.
Revenues from our crude pipelines were $16.6 million, an increase of $4.6 million, on shipments averaging 242.5 mbpd compared to 142.7 mbpd for the fourth quarter of 2013. This increase is due to increased volumes and revenue from the New Mexico gathering system expansion as well as low volumes during the fourth quarter of 2013 due to the reduced crude throughput at HFC's Navajo refinery.
Revenues from terminal, tankage and loading rack fees were $32.0 million, a decrease of $0.6 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. The decrease in revenue is due to lower cost reimbursement receipts from HFC offset with higher volumes. Refined products terminalled in our facilities increased to an average of 332.0 mbpd compared to 300.1 mbpd for the fourth quarter of 2013.


1






Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2014, include the recognition of $3.4 million of prior shortfalls billed to shippers in 2013 and 2014, as they did not meet their minimum volume commitments within the contractual make-up period. As of December 31, 2014, deferred revenue on our consolidated balance sheet related to shortfalls billed was $9.3 million. Such deferred revenue will be recognized in earnings either as (a) payment for shipments in excess of guaranteed levels, if and to the extent the pipeline system will have the necessary capacity for shipments in excess of guaranteed levels, or (b) when shipping rights expire unused over the contractual make-up period.
Year Ended December 31, 2014 Revenue Highlights
Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014, were $332.5 million, a $27.4 million increase compared to the same period of 2013. This is due principally to increased pipeline shipments, the effect of annual tariff increases and a $4.2 million increase in previously deferred revenue realized. Overall pipeline volumes were up 13% compared to 2013 largely due to low volumes in 2013 resulting from a major maintenance turnaround at HFC's Navajo refinery in the first quarter of 2013 as well as the reduced crude throughput at HFC's Navajo refinery during the fourth quarter of 2013.
Revenues from our refined product pipelines were $121.2 million, an increase of $13.0 million, primarily due to increased volumes and the effect of a $2.1 million increase in previously deferred revenue realized. Shipments averaged 183.2 mbpd compared to 170.8 mbpd for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Revenues from our intermediate pipelines were $29.8 million, an increase of $4.4 million, on shipments averaging 138.3 mbpd compared to 128.5 mbpd for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in revenue is due to the effects of a $2.2 million increase in previously deferred revenue realized and increased volumes on intermediate pipeline segments.
Revenues from our crude pipelines were $56.8 million, an increase of $8.1 million, on shipments averaging 199.6 mbpd compared to 161.4 mbpd for the year ended December 31, 2013. Revenues increased due to the annual tariff increases and higher volumes resulting from the New Mexico gathering system expansion as well as low volumes in 2013 caused by the turnaround at HFC's Navajo refinery and the fourth quarter 2013 processing constraints at HFC's Navajo refinery.
Revenues from terminal, tankage and loading rack fees were $124.7 million, an increase of $1.9 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase is due principally to increased volumes. Refined products terminalled in our facilities increased to an average of 331.0 mbpd compared to 318.9 mbpd for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014, include the recognition of $12.0 million of prior shortfalls billed to shippers in 2013.
Operating Costs and Expenses Highlights
Operating costs and expenses were $50.1 million and $177.8 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2014, respectively, representing increases of $3.0 million and $1.2 million over the respective periods of 2013. These increases are due to year-over-year increases in maintenance costs and environmental accruals partially offset by lower depreciation and amortization caused by lower abandonment charges related to tankage permanently removed from service. Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 were reduced by $3.5 million due to a net tax refund related to payroll costs over a multi-year period.
We have scheduled a webcast conference call today at 4:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss financial results. This webcast may be accessed at: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1052229.
An audio archive of this webcast will be available using the above noted link through March 10, 2015.


2






About Holly Energy Partners, L.P.
Holly Energy Partners, L.P., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, provides petroleum product and crude oil transportation, terminalling, storage and throughput services to the petroleum industry, including HollyFrontier Corporation subsidiaries. The Partnership owns and operates petroleum product and crude gathering pipelines, tankage and terminals in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, Idaho, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming and Kansas. In addition, the Partnership owns a 75% interest in UNEV Pipeline, LLC, the owner of a Holly Energy operated refined products pipeline running from Salt Lake City, Utah to Las Vegas, Nevada, and related product terminals and a 25% interest in SLC Pipeline LLC, a 95-mile intrastate pipeline system serving refineries in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
HollyFrontier Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an independent petroleum refiner and marketer that produces high value light products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other specialty products. HollyFrontier operates through its subsidiaries a 135,000 barrels-per-stream-day (“bpsd”) refinery located in El Dorado, Kansas, a 125,000 bpsd refinery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 100,000 bpsd refinery located in Artesia, New Mexico, a 52,000 bpsd refinery located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and a 31,000 bpsd refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. HollyFrontier markets its refined products principally in the Southwest U.S., the Rocky Mountains extending into the Pacific Northwest and in other neighboring Plains states. A subsidiary of HollyFrontier also owns a 39% interest (including the general partner interest) in Holly Energy Partners, L.P.
The statements in this press release relating to matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward looking statements use words such as “anticipate,” “project,” “expect,” “plan,” “goal,” “forecast,” “intend,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “believe,” “may,” and similar expressions and statements regarding our plans and objectives for future operations. These statements are based on our beliefs and assumptions and those of our general partner using currently available information and expectations as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Although we and our general partner believe that such expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, neither we nor our general partner can give assurance that our expectations will prove to be correct. All statements concerning our expectations for future results of operations are based on forecasts for our existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions. Our forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected. Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially from results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:
risks and uncertainties with respect to the actual quantities of petroleum products and crude oil shipped on
our pipelines and/or terminalled, stored and throughput in our terminals;
the economic viability of HollyFrontier Corporation, Alon USA, Inc. and our other customers;
the demand for refined petroleum products in markets we serve;
our ability to purchase and integrate future acquired operations;
our ability to complete previously announced or contemplated acquisitions;
the availability and cost of additional debt and equity financing;
the possibility of reductions in production or shutdowns at refineries utilizing our pipeline and terminal
facilities;
the effects of current and future government regulations and policies;
our operational efficiency in carrying out routine operations and capital construction projects;
the possibility of terrorist attacks and the consequences of any such attacks;
general economic conditions; and
other financial, operations and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and, other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


3




RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
       
Income, Distributable Cash Flow and Volumes
The following tables present income, distributable cash flow and volume information for the three months and years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 

Change from
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
(In thousands, except per unit data)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Pipelines:
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliates – refined product pipelines
$
18,332

 
$
15,523

 
$
2,809

Affiliates – intermediate pipelines
8,182

 
5,367

 
2,815

Affiliates – crude pipelines
16,597

 
11,990

 
4,607

 
43,111

 
32,880

 
10,231

Third parties – refined product pipelines
13,339

 
12,424

 
915

 
56,450

 
45,304

 
11,146

Terminals, tanks and loading racks:
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliates
28,323

 
29,267

 
(944
)
Third parties
3,640

 
3,305

 
335

 
31,963

 
32,572

 
(609
)
Total revenues
88,413

 
77,876

 
10,537

Operating costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)
31,966

 
27,355

 
4,611

Depreciation and amortization
15,213

 
16,693

 
(1,480
)
General and administrative
2,891

 
3,003

 
(112
)
 
50,070

 
47,051

 
3,019

Operating income
38,343

 
30,825

 
7,518

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in earnings of SLC Pipeline
837

 
588

 
249

Interest expense, including amortization
(8,733
)
 
(11,081
)
 
2,348

Interest income

 
51

 
(51
)
Gain (loss) on sale of assets

 
(53
)
 
53

Other income
37

 

 
37

 
(7,859
)
 
(10,495
)
 
2,636

Income before income taxes
30,484

 
20,330

 
10,154

State income tax (expense) benefit
(90
)
 
108

 
(198
)
Net income
30,394

 
20,438

 
9,956

Allocation of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(1,727
)
 
(1,440
)
 
(287
)
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners
28,667

 
18,998

 
9,669

General partner interest in net income, including incentive distributions(1)
9,333

 
7,485

 
1,848

Limited partners’ interest in net income
$
19,334

 
$
11,513

 
$
7,821

Limited partners’ earnings per unit – basic and diluted:(1)
$
0.33

 
$
0.19

 
$
0.14

Weighted average limited partners’ units outstanding
58,657

 
58,657

 

EBITDA(2)
$
52,703

 
$
46,613

 
$
6,090

Distributable cash flow(3)
$
41,835

 
$
34,263

 
$
7,572

Volumes (bpd)
 
 
 
 
 
Pipelines:
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliates – refined product pipelines
117,486

 
100,067

 
17,419

Affiliates – intermediate pipelines
131,590

 
114,389

 
17,201

Affiliates – crude pipelines 
242,533

 
142,713

 
99,820

 
491,609

 
357,169

 
134,440

Third parties – refined product pipelines
74,631

 
74,098

 
533

 
566,240

 
431,267

 
134,973

Terminals and loading racks:
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliates
260,198

 
225,036

 
35,162

Third parties
71,817

 
75,057

 
(3,240
)
 
332,015

 
300,093

 
31,922

Total for pipelines and terminal assets (bpd)
898,255

 
731,360

 
166,895



4




 
Years Ended December 31,
 

Change from
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
(In thousands, except per unit data)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Pipelines:
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliates – refined product pipelines
$
77,852

 
$
66,441

 
$
11,411

Affiliates – intermediate pipelines
29,813

 
25,397

 
4,416

Affiliates – crude pipelines
56,804

 
48,749

 
8,055

 
164,469

 
140,587

 
23,882

Third parties – refined product pipelines
43,377

 
41,837

 
1,540

 
207,846

 
182,424

 
25,422

Terminals, tanks and loading racks:
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliates
110,726

 
111,781

 
(1,055
)
Third parties
13,973

 
10,977

 
2,996

 
124,699

 
122,758

 
1,941

Total revenues
332,545

 
305,182

 
27,363

Operating costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)
104,801

 
99,444

 
5,357

Depreciation and amortization
62,166

 
65,423

 
(3,257
)
General and administrative
10,824

 
11,749

 
(925
)
 
177,791

 
176,616

 
1,175

Operating income
154,754

 
128,566

 
26,188

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in earnings of SLC Pipeline
2,987

 
2,826

 
161

Interest expense, including amortization
(36,101
)
 
(47,010
)
 
10,909

Interest income
3

 
161

 
(158
)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
(7,677
)
 

 
(7,677
)
Gain on sale of assets

 
1,810

 
(1,810
)
Other income
82

 
61

 
21

 
(40,706
)
 
(42,152
)
 
1,446

Income before income taxes
114,048

 
86,414

 
27,634

State income tax expense
(235
)
 
(333
)
 
98

Net income
113,813

 
86,081

 
27,732

Allocation of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(8,288
)
 
(6,632
)
 
(1,656
)
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners
105,525

 
79,449

 
26,076

General partner interest in net income, including incentive distributions(1)
(34,667
)
 
(27,523
)
 
(7,144
)
Limited partners’ interest in net income
$
70,858

 
$
51,926

 
$
18,932

Limited partners’ earnings per unit – basic and diluted:(1)
$
1.20

 
$
0.88

 
$
0.32

Weighted average limited partners’ units outstanding
58,657

 
58,246

 
411

EBITDA(2)
$
211,701

 
$
192,054

 
$
19,647

Distributable cash flow(3)
$
172,718

 
$
146,579

 
$
26,139

Volumes (bpd)
 
 
 
 
 
Pipelines:
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliates – refined product pipelines
119,156

 
107,493

 
11,663

Affiliates – intermediate pipelines
138,258

 
128,475

 
9,783

Affiliates – crude pipelines 
199,600

 
161,391

 
38,209

 
457,014

 
397,359

 
59,655

Third parties – refined product pipelines
64,055

 
63,337

 
718

 
521,069

 
460,696

 
60,373

Terminals and loading racks:
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliates
261,888

 
255,108

 
6,780

Third parties
69,100

 
63,791

 
5,309

 
330,988

 
318,899

 
12,089

Total for pipelines and terminal assets (bpd)
852,057

 
779,595

 
72,462




5




(1)
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners is allocated between limited partners and the general partner interest in accordance with the provisions of the partnership agreement. Net income allocated to the general partner includes incentive distributions declared subsequent to quarter end. General partner incentive distributions were $8.9 million and $7.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $33.2 million and $26.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(2)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) is calculated as net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners plus (i) interest expense and loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of interest income, (ii) state income tax and (iii) depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a calculation based upon GAAP. However, the amounts included in the EBITDA calculation are derived from amounts included in our consolidated financial statements. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners or operating income, as an indication of our operating performance or as an alternative to operating cash flow as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. EBITDA is presented here because it is a widely used financial indicator used by investors and analysts to measure performance. EBITDA also is used by our management for internal analysis and as a basis for compliance with financial covenants.

Set forth below is our calculation of EBITDA.
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners
$
28,667

 
$
18,998

 
$
105,525

 
$
79,449

Add (subtract):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
8,297

 
10,551

 
34,280

 
44,041

Interest income

 
(51
)
 
(3
)
 
(161
)
Amortization of discount and deferred debt charges
436

 
530

 
1,821

 
2,120

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

 
7,677

 

Amortization of unrecognized loss attributable to terminated cash flow hedge

 

 

 
849

State income tax
90

 
(108
)
 
235

 
333

Depreciation and amortization
15,213

 
16,693

 
62,166

 
65,423

EBITDA
$
52,703

 
$
46,613

 
$
211,701

 
$
192,054

(3)
Distributable cash flow is not a calculation based upon GAAP. However, the amounts included in the calculation are derived from amounts presented in our consolidated financial statements, with the general exception of maintenance capital expenditures. Distributable cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners or operating income, as an indication of our operating performance, or as an alternative to operating cash flow as a measure of liquidity. Distributable cash flow is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Distributable cash flow is presented here because it is a widely accepted financial indicator used by investors to compare partnership performance. It is also used by management for internal analysis and our performance units. We believe that this measure provides investors an enhanced perspective of the operating performance of our assets and the cash our business is generating.


6




Set forth below is our calculation of distributable cash flow.
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners
$
28,667

 
$
18,998

 
$
105,525

 
$
79,449

Add (subtract):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
15,213

 
16,693

 
62,166

 
65,423

Amortization of discount and deferred debt charges
436

 
530

 
1,821

 
2,120

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

 
7,677

 

Amortization of unrecognized loss attributable to terminated cash flow hedge

 

 

 
849

Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue attributable to shortfall billings
(2,454
)
 
62

 
(2,503
)
 
3,686

Maintenance capital expenditures*
(2,271
)
 
(2,126
)
 
(4,616
)
 
(8,683
)
Billed crude revenue settlement

 

 

 
918

Other non-cash adjustments
2,244

 
106

 
2,648

 
2,817

Distributable cash flow
$
41,835

 
$
34,263

 
$
172,718

 
$
146,579

    
*
Maintenance capital expenditures are capital expenditures made to replace partially or fully depreciated assets in order to maintain the existing operating capacity of our assets and to extend their useful lives. Maintenance capital expenditures include expenditures required to maintain equipment reliability, tankage and pipeline integrity, and safety and to address environmental regulations.
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
Balance Sheet Data
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,830

 
$
6,352

Working capital (deficit)
$
3,140

 
$
(6,604
)
Total assets
$
1,401,555

 
$
1,382,508

Long-term debt
$
867,579

 
$
807,630

Partners' equity(4)
$
320,362

 
$
369,446


(4)
As a master limited partnership, we distribute our available cash, which historically has exceeded our net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners because depreciation and amortization expense represents a non-cash charge against income. The result is a decline in partners’ equity since our regular quarterly distributions have exceeded our quarterly net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners. Additionally, if the assets contributed and acquired from HollyFrontier while we were a consolidated variable interest entity of HollyFrontier had been acquired from third parties, our acquisition cost in excess of HollyFrontier’s basis in the transferred assets of $305.3 million would have been recorded as increases to our properties and equipment and intangible assets at the time of acquisition instead of decreases to partners’ equity.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, Contact:
Douglas S. Aron, Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Julia Heidenreich, Vice President, Investor Relations
Craig Biery, Investor Relations
Holly Energy Partners, L.P.
214/954-6511


7